Earshot - Easily

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Earshot (?), n. Reach of the ear; distance at which words may be heard. Dryden.
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Earshrift (?), n. A nickname for auricular confession; shrift. [Obs.] Cartwright.
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Earsore (?), n. An annoyance to the ear. [R.]
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The perpetual jangling of the chimes . . . is no small earsore �s. Sir T. Browne.
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Ear-splitting (?), a. Deafening; disagreeably loud or shrill; as, ear-splitting strains.
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Earst (?), adv. See . [Obs.] Spenser.
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Earth (ẽrth), n. [AS. eorðe; akin to OS. ertha, OFries. irthe, D. aarde, OHG. erda, G. erde, Icel. jörð, Sw. & Dan. jord, Goth. aīrþa, OHG. ero, Gr. �, adv., to earth, and perh. to E. ear to plow.] 1. The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits.
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That law preserves the earth a sphere
And guides the planets in their course. S. Rogers.
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In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell. Milton.
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2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.
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God called the dry land earth. Gen. i. 10.
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He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him. Shak.
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3. The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth.
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Give him a little earth for charity. Shak.
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4. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.
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Would I had never trod this English earth. Shak.
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5. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.
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Our weary souls by earth beguiled. Keble.
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6. The people on the globe.
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The whole earth was of one language. Gen. xi. 1.
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7. (Chem.) (a) Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria. (b) A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta.
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8. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox. Macaulay.
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They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths. Holland.
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9. (Elec.) The connection of any part an electric conductor with the ground; specif., the connection of a telegraph line with the ground through a fault or otherwise.

☞ When the resistance of the earth connection is low it is termed a good earth.
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☞ Earth is used either adjectively or in combination to form compound words; as, earth apple or earth-apple; earth metal or earth-metal; earth closet or earth-closet.
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Coloq. Adamic earth , Coloq. Bitter earth , Coloq. Bog earth , Coloq. Chian earth , etc. See under , , etc. -- Coloq. Alkaline earths . See under . -- Coloq. Earth apple . (Bot.) (a) A potato. (b) A cucumber. -- Coloq. Earth auger , a form of auger for boring into the ground; -- called also earth borer. -- Coloq. Earth bath , a bath taken by immersing the naked body in earth for healing purposes. -- Coloq. Earth battery (Physics), a voltaic battery the elements of which are buried in the earth to be acted on by its moisture. -- Coloq. Earth chestnut , the pignut. -- Coloq. Earth closet , a privy or commode provided with dry earth or a similar substance for covering and deodorizing the fæcal discharges. -- Coloq. Earth dog (Zoöl.), a dog that will dig in the earth, or enter holes of foxes, etc. -- Coloq. Earth hog , Coloq. Earth pig (Zoöl.), the aard-vark. -- Coloq. Earth hunger , an intense desire to own land, or, in the case of nations, to extend their domain. -- Coloq. Earth light (Astron.), the light reflected by the earth, as upon the moon, and corresponding to moonlight; -- called also earth shine. Sir J. Herschel. -- Coloq. Earth metal . See 1st , 7. (Chem.) -- Coloq. Earth oil , petroleum. -- Coloq. Earth pillars or Coloq. Earth pyramids (Geol.), high pillars or pyramids of earth, sometimes capped with a single stone, found in Switzerland. Lyell. -- Coloq. Earth pitch (Min.), mineral tar, a kind of asphaltum. -- Coloq. Earth quadrant , a fourth of the earth's circumference. -- Coloq. Earth table (Arch.), the lowest course of stones visible in a building; the ground table. -- Coloq. On earth , an intensive expression, oftenest used in questions and exclamations; as, What on earth shall I do? Nothing on earth will satisfy him. [Colloq.]
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Earth (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earthed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Earthing.] 1. To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den. “The fox is earthed.” Dryden.
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2. To cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; -- sometimes with up.
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The miser earths his treasure, and the thief,
Watching the mole, half beggars him ere noon. Young.
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Why this in earthing up a carcass? R. Blair.
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Earth, v. i. To burrow. Tickell.
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Earth, n. [From to plow.] A plowing. [Obs.]
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Such land as ye break up for barley to sow,
Two earths at the least, ere ye sow it, bestow. Tusser.
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Earthbag (ẽrthbăg), n. (Mil.) A bag filled with earth, used commonly to raise or repair a parapet.
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earthball n. any of various fungi of the genus Scleroderma having hard-skinned subterranean trufflelike fruiting bodies.
Syn. -- earth-ball, false truffle.
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Earthbank (ẽrthbăṉk), n. A bank or mound of earth.
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Earthboard (ẽrthbōrd), n. (Agric.) The part of a plow, or other implement, that turns over the earth; the moldboard.
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Earthborn, earth-born (ẽrthbôrn), a. 1. Born of the earth; terrigenous; springing originally from the earth; human; having the characteristics of earthly life; as, earth-born beings.
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Some earthborn giant. Milton.
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2. Relating to, or occasioned by, earthly objects.
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All earthborn cares are wrong. Goldsmith.
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Earthbred (ẽrthbrĕd), a. Low; grovelling; vulgar.
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earth-closet n. a small building with a bench having holes through which a user can defecate.
Syn. -- outhouse, privy, jakes.
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earth colors n. pl. colors like those of soil or earth; brownish-reds and browns.
Syn. -- earth tones. [PJC]

earth-colored adj. having the color of soil or earth; reddish or reddish-brown.
Syn. -- earthlike.
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Earthdin (ẽrthdĭn), n. An earthquake. [Obs.]
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Earthdrake (ẽrthdrāk), n. A mythical monster of the early Anglo-Saxon literature; a dragon. W. Spalding.
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Earthen (ẽrth'n), a. Made of earth; made of burnt or baked clay, or other like substances; as, an earthen vessel or pipe.
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Earthen-hearted (?), a. Hard-hearted; sordid; gross. [Poetic] Lowell.
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Earthenware (?), n. Vessels and other utensils, ornaments, or the like, made of baked clay. See , , , and .
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Earth flax (?). (Min.) A variety of asbestus. See .
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Earthfork (?), n. A pronged fork for turning up the earth.
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earth-god n. a god of fertility and vegetation.
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earth-goddess n. a goddess of fertility and vegetation.
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Earthiness (?), n. The quality or state of being earthy, or of containing earth; hence, grossness.
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Earthliness (?), n. The quality or state of being earthly; worldliness; grossness; perishableness.
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Earthling (?), n. [Earth + -ling.] An inhabitant of the earth; a mortal.
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Earthlings oft her deemed a deity. Drummond.
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Earthlight (?), n. (Astron.) The sunlight reflected from the earth to the moon, by which we see faintly, when the moon is near the sun (either before or after new moon), that part of the moon's disk unillumined by direct sunlight, or “the old moon in the arms of the new.”
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Earthly, a. 1. Pertaining to the earth; belonging to this world, or to man's existence on the earth; not heavenly or spiritual; carnal; worldly; as, earthly joys; earthly flowers; earthly praise.
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This earthly load
Of death, called life. Milton.
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Whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. Phil. iii. 19.
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2. Of all things on earth; possible; conceivable.
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What earthly benefit can be the result? Pope.
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3. Made of earth; earthy. [Obs.] Holland.

Syn. -- Gross; material; sordid; mean; base; vile; low; unsubstantial; temporary; corrupt; groveling.
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Earthly, adv. In the manner of the earth or its people; worldly.
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Took counsel from his guiding eyes
To make this wisdom earthly wise. Emerson.
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Earthly-minded (?), a. Having a mind devoted to earthly things; worldly-minded; -- opposed to spiritual-minded. -- Earthly-mindedness, n.
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Earthmad (?), n. [Earth + mad an earthworm.] (Zoöl.) The earthworm. [Obs.]
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The earthmads and all the sorts of worms . . . are without eyes. Holland.
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Earthnut (?), n. (Bot.) A name given to various roots, tubers, or pods grown under or on the ground; as to: (a) The esculent tubers of the umbelliferous plants Bunium flexuosum and Carum Bulbocastanum. (b) The peanut. See .
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Earthpea (?), n. (Bot.) A species of pea (Amphicarpæa monoica). It is a climbing leguminous plant, with hairy underground pods.
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Earthquake (?), n. A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The wave of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and many thousand lives; -- called also earthdin, earthquave, and earthshock.
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Coloq. Earthquake alarm , a bell signal constructed to operate on the theory that a few seconds before the occurrence of an earthquake the magnet temporarily loses its power.
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Earthquake, a. Like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; startling.
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The earthquake voice of victory. Byron.
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Earthquave (?), n. An earthquake.
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earth-shaking adj. sufficiently significant to affect the whole world; as, earth-shaking proposals; an earth-shaking event.
Syn. -- world-shaking, world-shattering(predicate), world shattering(predicate).
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Earth shine (?). See Earth light, under .
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Earthshock (?), n. An earthquake.
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Earthstar (?), n. (Bot.) A curious fungus of the genus Geaster, in which the outer coating splits into the shape of a star, and the inner one forms a ball containing the dustlike spores.
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earth tones n. pl. colors like those of soil or earth; brownish-reds and browns.
Syn. -- earth colors. [PJC]

Earth-tongue (?), n. (Bot.) A fungus of the genus Geoglossum.

{ Earthward (?), Earthwards (�), } adv. Toward the earth; -- opposed to heavenward or skyward.
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Earthwork (?), n. 1. (Mil.) Any construction, whether a temporary breastwork or permanent fortification, for attack or defense, the material of which is chiefly earth.
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2. (Engin.) (a) The operation connected with excavations and embankments of earth in preparing foundations of buildings, in constructing canals, railroads, etc. (b) An embankment or construction made of earth.
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Earthworm (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) Any worm of the genus Lumbricus and allied genera, found in damp soil. One of the largest and most abundant species in Europe and America is L. terrestris; many others are known; -- called also angleworm and dewworm.
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2. A mean, sordid person; a niggard. Norris.
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Earthy (?), a. 1. Consisting of, or resembling, earth; terrene; earthlike; as, earthy matter.
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How pale she looks,
And of an earthy cold! Shak.
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All over earthy, like a piece of earth. Tennyson.
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2. Of or pertaining to the earth or to, this world; earthly; terrestrial; carnal. [R.] “Their earthy charge.” Milton.
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The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy. 1 Cor. xv. 47, 48 (Rev. Ver. )
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Earthy spirits black and envious are. Dryden.
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3. Gross; low; unrefined. “Her earthy and abhorred commands.” Shak.
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4. (Min.) Without luster, or dull and roughish to the touch; as, an earthy fracture.
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Earwax (?), n. (Anat.) See .
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Earwig (ērwĭg), n. [AS. eárwicga; eáre ear + wicga beetle, worm: cf. Prov. E. erri-wiggle.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any insect of the genus Forficula and related genera, belonging to the order Dermaptera (formerly Euplexoptera). They have elongated bodies and a prominent pair of curved pincers at the rear of their abdomen.
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2. (Zoöl.) In America, any small chilopodous myriapod, esp. of the genus Geophilus. See
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☞ Both insects are so called from the supposition that they creep into the human ear.
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3. A whisperer of insinuations; a secret counselor. Johnson.
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Earwig (ērwĭg), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earwigged (ērwĭgd); p. pr. & vb. n. Earwigging (ērwĭggĭng).] To influence, or attempt to influence, by whispered insinuations or private talk. “No longer was he earwigged by the Lord Cravens.” Lord Campbell.
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Earwitness (?), n. A witness by means of his ears; one who is within hearing and does hear; a hearer. Fuller.
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Ease (ēz), n. [OE. ese, eise, F. aise; akin to Pr. ais, aise, OIt. asio, It. agio; of uncertain origin; cf. L. ansa handle, occasion, opportunity. Cf. , .] 1. Satisfaction; pleasure; hence, accommodation; entertainment. [Obs.]
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They him besought
Of harbor and or ease as for hire penny. Chaucer.
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2. Freedom from anything that pains or troubles; as: (a) Relief from labor or effort; rest; quiet; relaxation; as, ease of body.
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Usefulness comes by labor, wit by ease. Herbert.
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Give yourself ease from the fatigue of watching. Swift.

(b) Freedom from care, solicitude, or anything that annoys or disquiets; tranquillity; peace; comfort; security; as, ease of mind.
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Among these nations shalt thou find no ease. Deut. xxviii. 65.
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Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. Luke xii. 19.

(c) Freedom from constraint, formality, difficulty, embarrassment, etc.; facility; liberty; naturalness; -- said of manner, style, etc.; as, ease of style, of behavior, of address.
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True ease in writing comes from art, not chance. Pope.
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Whate'er he did was done with so much ease,
In him alone 't was natural to please. Dryden.
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Coloq. At ease , free from pain, trouble, or anxiety. “His soul shall dwell at ease.” Ps. xxv. 12. -- Coloq. Chapel of ease . See under . -- Coloq. Ill at ease , not at ease, disquieted; suffering; anxious. -- Coloq. To stand at ease (Mil.), to stand in a comfortable attitude in one's place in the ranks. -- Coloq. With ease , easily; without much effort.

Syn. -- Rest; quiet; repose; comfortableness; tranquillity; facility; easiness; readiness.
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Ease (ēz), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Eased (ēzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Easing.] [OE. esen, eisen, OF. aisier. See , n.] 1. To free from anything that pains, disquiets, or oppresses; to relieve from toil or care; to give rest, repose, or tranquillity to; -- often with of; as, to ease of pain; to ease the body or mind.
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Eased [from] the putting off
These troublesome disguises which we wear. Milton.
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Sing, and I 'll ease thy shoulders of thy load. Dryden.
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2. To render less painful or oppressive; to mitigate; to alleviate.
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My couch shall ease my complaint. Job vii. 13.
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3. To release from pressure or restraint; to move gently; to lift slightly; to shift a little; as, to ease a bar or nut in machinery.
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4. To entertain; to furnish with accommodations. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Coloq. To ease off , Coloq. To ease away (Naut.), to slacken a rope gradually. -- Coloq. To ease a ship (Naut.), to put the helm hard, or regulate the sail, to prevent pitching when closehauled. -- Coloq. To ease the helm (Naut.), to put the helm more nearly amidships, to lessen the effect on the ship, or the strain on the wheel rope. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Syn. -- To relieve; disburden; quiet; calm; tranquilize; assuage; alleviate; allay; mitigate; appease; pacify.
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eased adj. made less severe or intense; mitigated.
Syn. -- alleviated, relieved.
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Easeful (?), a. Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet; comfortable; restful. Shak. -- Easefully, adv. -- Easefulness, n.
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Easel (?), n. [D. ezel ass, donkey, hence, easel, or G. esel; akin to E. ass. See .] A frame (commonly) of wood serving to hold a canvas upright, or nearly upright, for the painter's convenience or for exhibition.
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Coloq. Easel picture , Coloq. Easel piece , a painting of moderate size such as is made while resting on an easel, as distinguished from a painting on a wall or ceiling.
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Easeless (?), a. Without ease. Donne.
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Easement (?), n. [OF. aisement. See , n.] 1. That which gives ease, relief, or assistance; convenience; accommodation.
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In need of every kind of relief and easement. Burke.
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2. (Law) A liberty, privilege, or advantage, which one proprietor has in the estate of another proprietor, distinct from the ownership of the soil, as a way, water course, etc. It is a species of what the civil law calls servitude. Kent.
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3. (Arch.) A curved member instead of an abrupt change of direction, as in a baseboard, hand rail, etc.
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Easily (?), adv. [From .] 1. With ease; without difficulty or much effort; as, this task may be easily performed; that event might have been easily foreseen.
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2. Without pain, anxiety, or disturbance; as, to pass life well and easily. Sir W. Temple.
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3. Readily; without reluctance; willingly.
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Not soon provoked, she easily forgives. Prior.
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